Delos Brown sent this to me.  Del was a civilian captured on Wake Island.  When the North China Marines arrived at Woosung in early February of 1942 the POWs from Wake were already there.  Del was among the approximately 70 POWs sent from Woosung to Fukuoka 3-B in Japan in November of 1942.  His picture is 3rd from right, 2nd row, in the second photo seen in the picture of POWs who arrived at Fukuoka 5 Nov 1942.  This picture is on the page POW Camps Holding North China Marines, camp Fukuoka 3-B. 

1944 POW Fukuoka Camp 3, Kokura, Japan, after twelve hours of back breaking work in Yawata steel mills and an hour ride to camp in an open gondola car with freezing sleet, we forgot about it being Christmas eve.  On bed-bug infested straw mats, we tried to get some sleep and rest for our worn bodies while the bed-bugs drained our anemic blood.  We were awakened by Japanese guards hitting us with clubs and rifle butts about two in the morning.  We were driven out of the barracks into thirty degree sleet.  Standing frozen in damp freezing weather, we were forced to sing Christmas carols as the guards stood wrapped  in warm coats and laughed.  This was their idea of a cruel joke and insult to our customs.  On being allowed back in the barracks after nearly an hour standing and singing in the freezing sleet, we found a Japanese tube sock with one rice cracker on each man's mat.  We knew we could barely get our frozen bodies warm before being rousted out before daylight for another freezing ride and another twelve hours of slave labor in the steel mills on Christmas day. With all these Christmases past, the four F's I have (FREEDOM, sincere FRIENDS, loving FAMILY, and nourishing FOOD) make each and every day Christmas Day.  

Del e-mailed this to me on Christmas Day 2002.

North China Marine Harold A. (Doc) Hoffman was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received while beaten by the Japanese during the events described above. The award was not given until July 2007, more than 62 years after the event and 47 years after his death.

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